New lease of life for Richmond lock keeper's cottage

A historic cottage, formerly home to the keepers of Richmond Lock and Weir, on the northern, Middlesex bank of the River Thames, has been transformed into the new headquarters of a local firm of architects.

Following a £60,000 renovation by its owners the Port of London Authority (PLA), the Grade II (Star) listed building’s new tenants are the design company ‘Architect Your Home’.

Opened in 1894, Richmond Lock and Weir will be celebrating its 125th anniversary next year. The twin weirs located both north and south of the river, were operated manually until the 1960’s.

A five-month programme to convert the cottage into office space suitable for commercial letting and meeting challenging specifications for listed buildings, set by English Heritage, was led by PLA project engineer Lee Walker, who said:

“For me this was a true labour of love. The opportunity to restore this riverside gem to its former glory, both internally and externally, had many challenges, not least replicating some of the fittings, such as door frames, so it’s very satisfying to see the building occupied again.“

Established in 2002 by Jude and Hugo Tugman, ‘Architect Your Home’ specialises in domestic extension and refurbishment projects and has a network of 16 offices across London and the south east.

Jude Tugman said: “As an architect, my dream has always been to have a work base in an inspirational location. The ideal size for us, the lock keeper’s cottage fits the bill perfectly, with its views over the Thames providing a constantly changing landscape.

“The regular flow of river users passing by and abundance of local wildlife, including a baby seal, make it a truly uplifting environment that is so much more than just an office.

“As a runner, I have passed the premises many times and was always curious to see inside this majestic building, so I am doubly excited that is now my workplace too.”

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Notes to Editors

About the PLA

The PLA works to ensure navigational safety along the tidal Thames, sharing its marine, environmental, planning and other expertise to promote use of the river and safeguard its unique marine environment.

The tidal Thames is one of the UK’s busiest waterways and is home to the country’s second biggest port by tonnage of goods handled.